Illinois vs. Purdue preview

Tuesday

Mar 1, 2011 at 12:01 AMMar 1, 2011 at 1:00 AM

Once again, Purdue basketball is rolling behind a three-man weave. With multi-talented forward Robbie Hummel sidelined while recovering from a season-ending knee injury suffered in the second day of practice, classmates JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore were left to carry Purdue's hopes.

With multi-talented forward Robbie Hummel sidelined while recovering from a season-ending knee injury suffered in the second day of practice, classmates JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore were left to carry Purdue's hopes.

Johnson developed into a player-of-the-year candidate, a campaign that wasn't hurt with his 20 points, 17 rebounds and seven blocks in the 67-47 win at Michigan State on Sunday. Moore, who is also expected to earn first-team all-Big Ten, defeated Ohio State single-handedly by scoring 38 points against the Buckeyes on Feb. 20.

When Illinois plays at No. 6 Purdue on Tuesday, it's senior night for Johnson and Moore, but the key player on the floor is junior point guard Lewis Jackson, whose improvement allowed the Boilermakers to stay alive in the Big Ten title race and climb into consideration for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

"The younger guys joke with me -- and JaJaun and E'Twaun have kind of told me -- that I'm officially part of the big three," Jackson told reporters after scoring 14 of his 16 points in the second half against the Spartans. "I just tell the guys I'm still the same point guard, just trying to help the team get a win. If I'm in there, I feel good to be accomplishing it, but there's a lot more I want to do to help this team win."

Generously listed at 5-foot-9, the jet from Decatur Eisenhower High School isn't the same guard as last season, when he missed 19 games because of a foot injury and still hadn't developed as a scoring threat. Jackson isn't a dead-eye shooter, but the improvement in his perimeter shooting demands more respect from defenses that would rather help on Johnson and Moore.

"He's been great for us,'' Purdue coach Matt Painter said. "How he's playing right now is how he played in high school and AAU. He's taking charge. He's been a great leader. He's got some grit, some toughness. His ability to break down defenses and get to the basket has been great. It really stemmed from his work over the summer to knock down the open shot, the three or the pull up.

"Last year, people would back off him. He took that personally. He put a lot of time into his game.''

Don't look now, but Jackson is also an all-Big Ten candidate would could easily slip into the third-team. In Big Ten play, he's averaging 10.4 points, boosting his career average to 6.6. A talented ballhandler also improving his decision-making, Jackson has 65 assists with 35 turnovers in league play, and his intangibles -- toughness, leadership and hunger -- make Jackson a key player as the season turns to March.

"He's much more of a factor for them,'' Illinois coach Bruce Weber said.

Jackson led the Boilers on fastbreaks on three straight possessions to break open a nine-point game midway through the second half against Michigan State.

"The first half, I always try and make sure everybody gets the ball, gets good shots and if I can get a layup here and there, (I) try and get a good shot," Jackson said. "In the second half, I just kind of looked to be more aggressive. My teammates told me, 'You get open, shoot the ball or look to attack.' "

Illinois took a close look but passed on Jackson when there were questions about his shooting ability.

"He's really improved his shooting from high school,'' Weber said. "He had great quickness and energy. He has heart and toughness. He worked at his game and improved.''

Jackson posted 10 points and five assists with two turnovers in the 81-70 win at Illinois on Feb. 13, when he dissected the Illini during the second half as Purdue used a high ball screen. He has plenty of options: (1) Johnson diving off the pick and roll, (2) Johnson on a pick and pop, (3) Moore on the wing, (4) opportunistic shooters, such as Ryne Smith and D.J. Byrd, or (5) Jackson creating offense with a shot or a drive.

"One thing I talked with Lew is going hard off the ballscreen and not having a predetermined thought,'' Painter said. "After they defend it a certain way and make some adjustments, make the right decision. Read the defense and make the play. We've seen everybody defend it six, seven, eight different ways. He's seen everything now.''

Purdue won six straight and seven of its last eight, in part because of the little floor general and those decisions on the ball screens.

"We had trouble with it,'' Weber said. "We're not the only ones. They've gone on a run. He's definitely been a key part of that.''

Noteworthy: Purdue scored 54 points in the second half during the victory over Illinois in Assembly Hall on Feb. 13. Johnson scored 24 points while Moore finished with 20. Meanwhile, Paul (23 points), Davis (16) and guard D.J. Richardson (13) led the Illini. McCamey was 1-for-10 from the field and finished with four points, four assists, three turnovers and five steals. ... Tisdale (25), Davis (20) and McCamey (18) combined for 63 points against Iowa on Saturday, the most by the trio. They combined to score 60 against Northwestern last season. ... Purdue won the last four meetings between the two teams and seven of the last 10. Illinois swept both games against Purdue in the 2008-09 regular season, including an overtime win in Mackey Arena. ... Johnson was named Big Ten player of the week Monday.

Key for Illini: Don't be overwhelmed by the energy from Purdue's senior night.

Key for Boilermakers: See if the Illini can defend Jackson and the high ball screen.

Key quote: "They're playing the best of anybody right now (in the Big Ten). It's not going to be an easy game. We're going in there like we can win it.'' -- Illini center Mike Tisdale.